Years ago I had an all-out event on my blog for Autism Awareness Month. I created a list of categories for daily posts. Guest posts filled the calendar and had goodies as well. Let me tell you, that was one busy month!

This year I wore blue because a Facebook friend asked people to wear blue and take a picture for her to show her son. Guess what? I forgot to take a picture!

You see, for about a year my son has progressively gone down hill. In August I called a local autism center at the recommendation of a friend. I cried on the phone to the receptionist (Does anyone else do that?). That’s how desperate I was, and it wasn’t even at its worst point yet!

I’ve been living in survival mode for a long time. When you’re in survival mode, you don’t really care about wearing a certain color shirt. You just care that you have clean laundry.

When you’re in survival mode, you can’t think of things to spread awareness. You just want someone to notice that you’ve been missing.

When you feel like a good day is a day that no one is physically harmed, you’re not planning ahead for walks or runs or bake sales. You’re stuffing chocolate chips in your mouth between referee sessions and crying in the bathroom.

I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who’s been living in survival mode. Let me say two things.

If you’re wondering where your special needs mom friend has been, ask her. She may not be a great friend right now. Don’t take it personally that you haven’t heard from her. She may be hanging on by her fingernails.

If you’ve got the energy to spread awareness and lobby for acceptance, no matter the diagnosis, and you’re decorating yourself and your home, fabulous! But please, don’t look down at other special needs moms who are just too tired for that this year. Why not give them a hug instead, tell them you’ll do their share of awareness this year.

What stage are you? Are you in survival mode like me or soap box sassy or somewhere in between?

*We have started the process at the clinic and it looks like my son has PANDAS. If your child’s symptoms are getting progressively worse, they are changing into a different person, they are becoming violent or self harming, if psych meds make them worse, you may want to look for more information on PANDAS. Start with Pandas Network. You may also want to grab a copy of Childhood Interrupted by Beth Alison Maloney.

I’ve got a special gift for Autismland readers:

Jenny Herman wants to live in a world where dark chocolate dispensers reside on every corner. As a homeschooling special needs mom, she’s been featured in Autism Parenting Magazine, Wit and Wisdom from the Parents of Special Needs Kids: Mostly True Stories of Life on the Spectrum, and various blogs. If she survives the onslaught of testosterone in her home, she may take a moment to blog, read a book, try a new recipe, or loom knit a gift. You can find Jenny’s book The Power of One: Change Your Perspective, Change Your Life at Amazon. Discover her tips for special needs parenting, hands-on homeschooling, and pressing on at jennyherman.com.

About Us

Call me Penny, wife to Michael as well as mom to Logan who has autism and Madison who is pursuing a dance career.
Based on my own personal and often difficult experiences with autism, I hope to educate families of children with autism on how to navigate their world from pre diagnosis to adulthood.